Wouldn't it be nice to hear a beautiful, moving aria next time you emerge from the subway station? - and we don't mean the song that Crazy Bob sings asking for quarters. Well, if you visit the Eichbaum station in the Ruhr District between Mülheim and Essen, you might be able to do just that. German <a href="http://www.raumlabor-berlin.de/">architects from raumlaborberlin</a> have transformed the gritty metro stop, which is known for violence and vandalism, into an awesome <a href="http://www.eichbaumoper.de/wordpress/">open air opera house</a>! Composed (get it?) of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=shipping+container">shipping containers</a>, the "opera lodge" offers a place for the artists to work on their ideas, while the open air theatre uses elements of the actual station as a stage and seating for guests to enjoy the music.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

The “Opernbauhütte,” or Opera Lodge is made from old <a href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=shipping+container">shipping containers</a> and is a working space for the artists and residents of Eichbaumoper (Eichbaum Opera).

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

It sits perched right next to the open air theater and offers a lovely view of performances.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

The sides of the lodge have been fitted with round porthole-style windows, letting daylight into the space.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

A view of where the artists and performers formulate their ideas.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

Below the lodge, a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/24/glowing-mobile-bars-are-an-upcycled-roving-party/">bar</a>, also made from a container, serves theatergoers libations.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

The completed lodge after being painted to match the station.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

Performances at Eichbaumoper typically utilize the whole station - beginning from inside the actual subway and traveling to the platform and then to the forecourt.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

Performers even climb on top of the roof!

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Eichbaum Metro Station Opera House

And since every show is meant to be accessible for everyone to see, the station is always left open to the public, so that passersby can catch the event too.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

Although Eichbaumoper is envisioned as an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/26/londons-jellyfish-theatre-made-from-pallets-opens-today/">opera house</a>, it's not limited to that purpose.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

Several weekends ago, the station was transformed into an arena and organized a boxchampionship and rap-battle!

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

A model of Eichbaumoper.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

The opera lodge all lit up.

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Eichbaum Metro Station Transformed into Shipping Container Opera

Wouldn't it be nice to hear a beautiful, moving aria next time you emerge from the subway station? - and we don't mean the song that Crazy Bob sings asking for quarters. Well, if you visit the Eichbaum station in the Ruhr District between Mülheim and Essen, you might be able to do just that. German architects from raumlaborberlin have transformed the gritty metro stop, which is known for violence and vandalism, into an awesome open air opera house! Composed (get it?) of shipping containers, the "opera lodge" offers a place for the artists to work on their ideas, while the open air theatre uses elements of the actual station as a stage and seating for guests to enjoy the music.